Me and a buddy are coming to Costa Rica on March 11. We are staying in downtown San Jose that night, but wanted to fish on the 12th or 13th. What do you recommend for a one-day trip? We're flexible for either coast on Inland for Guapote, etc.

Brad, If you want to do a quick day of fishing then you can go to Los Suenos via helicopter or take a 20 minute flight to Quepos. They have a schedule that can get you there and back in one day. Guapote is bit of a hike from San Jose (3 1/2/ hours). Rob

Billfishing the first week of April. Unsure which days. Can I visit a dock and charter the next day? Where can I find smaller charters with more hands on for a party of 3? Paul.

Hi Paul, April is a good month to get a walk up charter. There is usually a few boats that are not booked or have a cancellation. Your best bet is Quepos although you may also be able to find one in Los Sueños.In Quepos you can check in the Gran Escape around dinner/cocktail time. The boat captains and crews are usually in there and you can find out how the bite is. Rob

A friend and I are in the initial stages of planning a 3-4 day trip to Costa Rica sometime between March and July. I was in Quepos with my wife in October and we got skunked. I was hoping you could provide me with some expert advice on when the best time would be (March-July), what area would be best  to go, and what I could expect fishing wise. Thanks for your help.

Hi Rich, September and October are the roughest months. Its part because of the currents and the lack of anglers too. Most of the boats work together when it comes to finding fish. With 40-50 boats out there is a good chance someone will come across some fish and let the other boats know. In October there are fewer fish and fewer  boats out to find them but even still skunked is rarely heard of in Quepos. If you can go in March go. Followed by April and then May. Go back to Quepos too. Let me know if you have trouble finding a boat because it tough to find a good one then. I know a guy that only takes 70 trips a year but I may be able to talk him into a few more. Rob

I am interested in fishing Costa Rica for billfish and tarpon. Are there any areas that would offer close access to both of these? I have a timeshare and would be staying for 7 days. There are several areas throughout Costa Rica that I can stay in my timeshare. I plan to charter for fishing and would like to experience a couple days of each. If this is possible, what month would be provide optimal opportunities?

Hi Chris, The Tarpon fishing is done out of Barra Colorado on the Caribbean Coast. It is reachable by small plane and then a boat ride through the jungle. So unless you have a time share in a hut you will need to stay at one of the lodges. The place to go is Casa Mar Lodge. The late owner was my good friend of mine and I have probably spent more than a year of my life there.Let me know where on the Pacific your time shares are in and I will suggest a boat but make sure you let me know when you are traveling because that is very important. Rob

We are planning a trip for five guys and we are all torn between going to Quepos for Fishing or going to Los Sueños. We have looked into a lot of different things and talked to a lot of different people. Most of the websites and books say Quepos is the better bet but there are a lot of people that we know who have visited there an said that Los Sueños is better. We are looking for he BEST overall fishing experience. We will be heading out for two days for offshore billfish. Now we are looking for the best boats and the best captains and crew. The bigger the boat the better. The prices are not really too much of a concern and I think that is why we are leaning toward Los Sueños but I have a gut feeling about Quepos. We are also looking to do a lot of the other adventure type activities while we are there like Canopy Tours, Waterfall repelling , ATV riding and so on. If you could give me some recommendations and more importantly help me find a great captain and a great crew on a first class boat. Thanks

Pat, Although I ran my boat out of Quepos and its where I liked to go I think Los Suenos is more of what you are looking for as far as big boats are concerned. Los Sueños is a resort with a first class Marina. In fact its where we are having the 2007 Costa Rica Classic this March.Quepos is an old banana port town with a downtown area where locals and visitors mix. It has an old pier that the boats back up to rather than just walking up to a slip.The onshore activities are probably better in Quepos but you will fish the same general area no matter which place you go out of.  One tip! Make sure to ask if you can take pictures of any released sailfish. With some of the nice big boats sporting paint jobs approaching six figures some do not like to pull the the rough fish over the side of the boat. Rob

Where and When is the best time to sportfish for Marlin and Sailfish in Costa Rica? I am responsible for setting up a bachelor party there. We are looking around February of 2008. I know its early but I want to set it up as soon as possible. We will be a party of anywhere between 10-18 guys

Hi Vic, You have the best month chosen. December through April is peak billfish season, with February being right at the top. I am going to suggest one or two nights in San Jose and then to head out to Los Suenos or Quepos. You may want to pick your dates soon. With our season in swing down here a lot of the guys get off the boat and rebook on the spot for the next year, now they are coming up on January. Tight lines. Rob

Rob, We have a group of four guys coming down from North Carolina the week of March 11-18, and we want to do some serious fishing. We'd like to concentrate offshore for sails, marlin, dorado, and rooster fish. We wouldn't mind maybe catching some tuna as well. I was wondering what spot you would recommend for this particular time of year. If you could recommend a couple of possible charters or captains that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing back from you! Wilson

Wilson, That is peak time for offshore action in the southern and central part of the Pacific Coast. Depending on your budget and what kind of onshore activities you wish to do you have three options. Los Suenos Quepos or Crocodile Bay. Los Suenos is the highest end, set in a resort. Quepos has the most options on boats and hotels, bars, restaurants etc. and Crocodile Bay is a lodge that is set in a more remote area that has all inclusive. If you have any more questions let me know. Rob

Rob, I will be in Costa Rica during the month of June. Will I have a good chance of doing some good offshore fishing? Where should I concentrate? thanks, Dave

Hi David, Thanks for that great question David. June is one of those months that brings good fishing offshore just about everywhere in Costa Rica. Nonetheless, I would consider fishing up north, off the Bat Islands. The Papagallo winds are gone and the Bats hold all different kinds of fish when the clean water is in. In fact some of my best days ever have been at there. That is not to say the action out of Crocodile Bay or Quepos won't be great either. Its just a matter of this time of year being the beginning of the season up north and beautiful place to fish. Rob